Bhubaneswar: The Pahandi Bije ritual of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra was completed with Lord Jagannath ascending His chariot Nandighosa at around 11.45 am on Tuesday. Servitors of Shreemandir carried the Lord from the Ratna Bedi in the Jagannath Temple to Nandighosha through the Singhadwara with devotion and ceremonial procession.
The Pahandi Bije ritual started around 9.30 am today with Lord Sudarshan ascending the chariot. This was followed by Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra ascending their respective chariots – Taladhwaja Rath for Lord Balabhadra, the Darpadalan Rath to leave for their annual 9-day sojourn to the Gundicha Temple.
The conclusion of the Pahandi Bijae of the Holy Trinity marks the beginning of the Rath Yatra.
The second phase of the ritual ‘Chhera Pahanra’ will be held between 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm. ‘Chhera Pahanra’ is performed by the king of Puri every year during the Rath Yatra. After the idols of the Lords are installed on the chariots, Puri king Dibyasingha Deba will sweep the chariots of the Lords with a golden broom.
This will be followed by the king worshipping the deities by performing an aarati. The holy journey or the Rath Yatra will commence after this at 4.00 pm.
